Feb. 23 Army roundup: Men’s basketball wins to go game above .500

Sunday

Feb 24, 2013 at 2:00 AM

The Army men’s basketball team inched closer to its first winning season in 28 years. The Black Knights won their fourth straight Patriot League road game and recorded their first win at American on Saturday, 72-58 at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C.

Army’s four-game league streak is its longest in 23 seasons of Patriot play. The Black Knights (14-13, 7-5 Patriot) virtually clinched fourth place and a home playoff game in the Patriot tournament quarterfinals with two games to play. They also are on the verge of finishing above .500 for the first time since going 16-13 in 1984-85.

Army is two games ahead of both Colgate and American for fourth place. A win in either of Army’s final two games, or a loss by Colgate, would clinch the fourth spot in league standings. Army still has a shot at third place as well.

American (10-17, 5-7 Patriot) led by three with 18:50 left when Army erupted on a 35-10 run. Ella Ellis finished with 15 points, including four 3-pointers, for Army. Kyle Wilson had 14 points and Josh Herbeck had 12 points on four 3-pointers for Army. Kyle Toth had 11 points for Army, which shot 54.2 percent (13-of-24) on 3-pointers and 51 percent overall.

Army’s John Clark scored his first career goal in the team’s Atlantic Hockey Association loss at sold-out Tate Rink, West Point.

Army twice tied the score before losing in front of a crowd of 2,626. Maurice Alvarez and Christian Pomarico also scored for the Black Knights (7-17-5, 7-12-5 AHA). Andy Starczewski, Joe Kozlak, Thane Heller, Luke Jenkins, Andrew O’Leary and Shane Hearn each had an assist for Army. UConn is 16-1-3, 13-10-2 AHA.

Army recorded its first 20-win season in six years and clinched at least one home game for the Patriot League tournament with the win at Christl Arena, West Point.

Freshman Kelsey Minato had 20 points for Army (20-7, 9-3 Patriot). Dave Magarity became the only coach in the program’s history to record multiple 20-win seasons.

Army never trailed. Brianna Johnson was 4-for-4 shooting to match her career high with 10 points for Army. Olivia Schretzman added 10 points, and Jen Hazlett had eight rebounds for Army.